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REYNGL DS HISTORICAL
GENEALOGY COLLECTION

TO

ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

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833 01203 9084

THE BLYNMAN PARTY

BY

WILLIAM FARRAND FSLCH

Photo-offset copy
Newberry Library
Chicago, Illinois
. 1972

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THE BLYNMAN PARTY.

By TV. Farbasd Felch, Esq., of Hartford, Ct.
[Reprinted from the New-England Historical and Genealogical Register for April, IS99.]

The Blynman party came from Wales, mainly from Monmouth-
shir.e, and very likely in the year 1640. They first appear at Plymouth
and next at Marshfield (then called Green's Harbor), Massachusetts,
but remained there only a short time before they removed to Glouces-
ter. The members of Rev. Mr. Blynman's party were largely, it is
supposed, members of his church, at Chepstow, Monmouthshire, be-
fore his ejection therefrom. They accompanied him over the ocean,
kept with him at Marshfield, then at Gloucester, and about 1650
went with him to Xew London, Connecticut. The}- were farmers
and mechanics who found Gloucester, which was then little more
than a fishing station, an unfavorable place for their occupation,
hence their removal to New London.

Mr. Blynman is said in history to have been accompanied to this
country by "several Welsh gentlemen of good note,'' but the date
of his arrival is not known.

In the " Memoirs of the Plymouth Colony," by Hon. Francis
Baylies, part 5, p. 285, under "Marshfield," we find:

"Gov. Winslow, the founder of Marshfield, often visited England; he
induced several Welsh gentlemen of respectability to emigrate to America,
amongst whom came the Rev. Richard Blinman, in 1642, who was the first
pastor of Marshfield. Some dissensions taking place, Mr. Blinman and
the Welshmen removed to Cape Anne in less than a year. In 1648 Bliu-
man went to New London, in Connecticut, of which place he was the pastor
ten years. In 1658 he was at New Haven, and soon after returned to
England, after having received in 1650 an invitation to settle at New-
foundland. He died at the city of Bristol, England."

From another source I glean :

" Marshfield incorporated March 1, 1642. After the departure of Rev.
Mr. Blinman, Rev. Edward Bulkeley, sou of the first minister of Concord,

M

ass., was pastor.

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THE EARLIEST DATE OF TEC BLYXMAN PARTY.

The earliest notice we have of Mr. Blynman in this country is in
the Plymouth records, March 2, 1641. This was earlier than
any vessel would likely arrive that season, which makes it probable
that he came over in 1640:

"At a General Court held in Plymouth, (Mass.,) Mr. Blindman, Mr.
Heugh Prychard, Mr. Obadiah Breweu, .John Sadler. Heugh Cauken, and
Walter Tibbott were propounded to be made free the next Court."

Plymouth Records, vol. 2, p. 8.

This is dated March 2, 1641, and is the earliest mention of the
Blvnman party. What is still more remarkable is that only six of
the numerous party are mentioned.

Gov. Winthrop in his Diary, says :

"One Mr. Bliuman, a minister in Wales, a Godly and able man, came
over with some friends of his, and being invited to Green';. Harbour (since
Marshfield near Plymouth,) they went thither, but ere the year was expired
there fell out some difference among them which by no means could be
reconciled, so as they agreed to part, and he came with his company and
sat down at Cape Anne which at this Court (May, 16J/2) was established
to be a plantation and called Gloucester."

The italics in all eases in this article are the writer's, for a pur-
pose which will appear soon. If they came in 1640 from W ales
or England, then "ere the year was expired," Or at all events
within a year of that time, they must have removed to Gloucester.
The date of their propounding as freemen of Plymouth colony is
given in the Plymouth records clearly enough, "March 2d, 1640-
41," which according to present reckoning was 1641 N.S., but early
for a vessel to arrive that year from the mother country, hence they
may have come in 1640; and if within a year of that time they
had fallen out with the Marshfield authorities, then it follows they
were in Gloucester early in 1641 ^.S.

Moreover, Marshfield was incorporated in 1040. Mr. Winslow
settled there himself, so it is probable he induced this Welsh party
to come over with him to help settle it.

THE ELYXMAX PARTY IX GLOUCESTER.

It is not known, cither, at what time they removed to Glouces-
ter, but within a year, as Gov. Winthrop says. The present
writer, in investigating his family records, makes the following dis-
coveries. First, that it is just barely possible that his emigrant
ancestor, Henry Felch, senior, was a member of the Blvnman
party, as he is traditionally a Welshman, and also from parity of
dates.

Babson's " History of Gloucester, Mass.," page 93, says:

"Henry Felch was here in 1 042. and was the owner of 'six acres of
hoed "round,' of which there was no grant in the record. From this fact
it may be inferred that he was a settler before the incorporation of the town.

He also had a house and land which he sold to James Avery He

may have removed to ... . Boston, where the name is found in 1G57.
He had a daughter who married Samuel Haieward." ....

'■ Samuel Haieward is not mentioned as an owner of land, nor in any
other connection than as husband and father. His marriage with a daugh-
ter of Henry Felch, March 2, 1641, N. S., is the earliest in the records.
His children' were Samuel, born 1642, and John, 1643."

Now, Henry Felch owned his land before the incorporation of the
town, which was incorporated " 2d month, 1642," (or May, 1642).
But in Oct., 1641, the bounds of the town were settled by the
General Court : so it is probable there were settlers there that early.
But Henry Felch was there prior to that time even, as there is no
grant of his six acres in the town records.

It is an open question, however, whether he was in Gloucester as
early as March 2d, 1641, on which date his daughter was married
to Samuel Haieward or Hayward ; but it is very probable that he
was a resident of Gloucester at that time, from the circumstance of
his daughter having been married here at that date.

But, on this very same date (March 2d, 1641), as we have
already seen, Mr. Blynman and his party were propounded freemen
of the Plymouth colony. Xow it is just possible that if Henry
Felch was a member of the Blynman colony at this time, he was
with that party on that day, or they were with him ; and if they
were it may be that they had already settled in Gloucester the day
they were propounded as freemen of Plymouth colony.*

WHERE WERE THEY ADMITTED FREEMEN?

The Blynman party may have just landed, or may have been at
Marshfield when propounded, or at Gloucester. We have already
shown that they had probably just landed at Plymouth. We can
now assume they could have been admitted freemen of Plymouth
colony just as" well if they resided at Plymouth or Marshfield.
Again, it is very likely they were admitted freemen at about the
time they arrived at Gloucester, as it was necessary for them to be
made freemen before they could become townsmen to govern the
town.

•Or, the six members admitted may have remained at Plymouth for that purpose.
while the rest of the party ma\ have gone on to Gloucester in advance, the six mem-
bers remaining to be charged with the control of the settlement. It is not certain that
the six were made freemen at the next Court (April Oth), as no mention is made in the
records. But records of admission were kept loosely. It is more likely they had lelt
Plymouth, and probably Marshfield, for Gloucester.

On May 2, 1G42, some of the above mentioned persons (freemen
at Plymouth) were chosen to manage the prudential affairs of Glou-
cester, Mass. This constituted the first board of selectmen.
Now, if Henry Felch was of the Blynman party, it is likely the
party ivas in Gloucester before the marriage of his daughter,
March 2d, 1641. The town of Gloucester was settled some time
between Oct., 1641 (when the bounds of the town were settled by
the General Court), and May, 1642 (when it was established or in-
corporated as a plantation and called Gloucester). It is highly
probable it was settled long before this, however, by the Welsh
party, added to the rude fisher folk who had inhabited Cape Ann
for several years prior. At the last date, May, 1642, without doubt
all the Blinman party were settled at Gloucester.

WHO COMPOSED THE BLYNMAN PARTY.

It is an inquiry of some interest who composed the Welsh party
that came over with Rev. Mr. Blinman. It is fair to presume that
a considerable number of his fellow-passengers settled with him in a
body at Cape Ann. Thither, therefore, we must follow them. On
that billowy mass of rocks, that promontory so singularly bold in
position and outline and so picturesque in appearance, they fixed
their second encampment in this new world.

The following extract from the town records of Gloucester may
indicate several of the "Welshmen :

2. Mar. '42. On the first ordering and disposing of the affairs of Glou-
cester by Mr. Endicott and Mr. Downing, these eight were chosen to
manage the prudential affairs:

" Wm. Steevens, Win. Addis, Mr. Mihvood, Mr. Sadler, Mr. Bruen,
Mr. Fryer, Mr. Norton, Walter Tybott."

Add to these eight names, the names of Rev. Richard Blynman,
Hugh Pritchard and Hugh Calkin, propounded at Ply mouth at the
same time with Rev. Mr. Blinman and others.

The emigrants to New London, from Gloucester, in 1650, were
Christopher Avery, James Avery, Wm. Addis, Obadiah Bruen,
Hugh Calkin, John Coit senior, Wm. Hough, Wm. Kenie,
Andrew Lister or Lester, Wm. Meades, Ralph Parker, and Wm.
Well man.

This Cape Ann colony that removed to Xew London consisted of
about twenty families in all. It is probable that Mr. Blinman's
wife Mary, "and Dorothy the wife of Thomas Parkes, were sisters :
so Parkes was very likely another of the party. In March, 1651,
the principal body of these eastern emigrants arrived at iNew Lon-
don,— among them John Coit junior, Thomas Jones, Edmund
Marshall and bis son John, Wm. Hough, Wm. Meades, and

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James Morgan. With them also came Robert Allyn, from Salem,
Mo-;*., and Philip Tabor, from Martha's Vineyard (who very likely
did not come with Blynman).

The younger Coit, the two Marshalls, and Thomas Jones,
after a short residence in New London, returned to Gloucester.
.... Several other persons appeared in New London at about the
same time (dates unknown and places of origin unknown) : Matthew
Beckwith, John, Samuel, and Thomas Beebe, Peter Collins, George
Ilarwood, Richard Pool and John Packer. How many and who of
these, if any, came with Blynman in say 1640, it is difficult to
decide ; but perhaps a long trans- Atlantic search would develop the
habitat of each of the emigrants.

SOME TRANS- ATLANTIC NOTES.

The present writer took occasion, some few years ago, to conduct
some researches in this direction, and secured from the then vicar at
Chepstow, Monmouthshire, the following letter and notes :

Chepstow, Monmouthshire, March 29, '89.

Dear Sir : —

I have taken considerable pains to find what you want in our registers,
but with only partial success. The registers go back to 1595, and as
regards baptisms and funerals are perfect, though in a few instances illegi-
ble. Unfortunately, however, the marriage register is incomplete, several
pages being missing after 1(311.

As regards the Blynman or Blinman family we have a fairly satisfactory
record, a large family having sprung from William Bliuman's second mar-
riage, araoiiff them, I suppose, being the Rev. Richard Blinman, though we
have no complete record of the vicars of Chepstow, and I therefore cannot
tell whether lie ever occupied that position. A curious fact about William
Blinman is that his eldest children were born within a very tew months of
his first and second marriages, and the record of Richard Blinman's bap-
tism is in different coloured ink, squeezed in between other entries in the
year 1607, though it professes to have taken place iu 1008. I can only
suppose that some years after, when he was incumbent, he found the entry
missing, and supplied it on the recollection of friends.

Of Vfelch, Ffaleh, or Felt, I find no mention. The only name even
resembling it in sound being Phelpes. Of Morgans there are plenty, but
not Miles or dames, as far as I can discover. I would hazard the guess
that they may have been cousins of Rev. Richard B.. as his mother's name
was Jane Morgan. Of Jones, — Thomas Jones was one of the church-
wardens in 1610 — a numerous family, hut rather difficult to identify, owing
to the frequency of the name. Steevens or Stephens, several entries, hut
riot William. I find, however, a register of burial of Elioner, the wife of
William Stephens of Bettisley, 9th Sept. 1608. Hough I cannot find, but
on several occasions Hughe, e. y. : Catherine Hughe wife of Juo. Hughe,
Sept. 6, 1638.

These are all the names I can trace in the Chepstow registers. There
may be some I have overlooked, as searching takes a long time in the old

6

writing; but I do not think I have slipped any of the important ones.
Have yon written to the Marsh fields ? The second one, near Chippenham,
L not in II:- ■ _•>: but in Wiltshire, near the holders of Glo'stershire. 1 have
a friend there and if you like will have the registers searched for Ffelch,
or as I sometimes pass Marshfield, near Cardiff, I would call there if you
like me to do so. Machen, from which the Morgans came, of Lord Trede-
gar's family is close to the Monmouthshire Marshfield.

Do you know whether any of the Blinman party were from Tyddenham,
about two miles from Chepstow? I only ask as there are traditions of an
emigration to America. Buttingtou Tump and Bunker s Hill are there,
the latter some think the original of the famous one.

(Then follow his notes as indicated in his letter. )

Records of the Blinman or Blynman Family,

in the Registers of Chepstow Church, and of others who may have accom-
panied Rev. Richard Blynman to America.

Bltnmax. 1599. William Blynman and Maude Jones of Chepstow
were solemnized the viiith Daye of January.

Maude the wife of Win. Blynman died, and was buried July 30. 1599.
A child of this marriage was baptised June 12th, 1.599, was buried Novem-
ber 1599.

Anod'mi. 1607. William Blynman and Jane Morgan were married
the loth of October. Richard, the son of William Blinman was baptized
the 2nd day of ffebruary 1608.

Other children of the marriage were, Roger, baptized Sep. 23, 1610;
Ann and Bridget baptized Sept. 4, 1613; Henry and Margaret, baptized
August 9, 1612; Elizabeth, baptized August 13, 1620.

William Blinman was buried April 22, 1619.

JONES. Thomas Jones and Daniell Pearce, churchwardens, 1610.

Thomas, son of Thomas Jones the younger, baptized Nov. 25, 1615 ;

Simon, baptized 2nd Feb. 1639. Also daughters Marie, Elizabeth,
Elioner, Two other Thomas Joneses appear, the oue a baker in 1630, the
other in 1632.

Morgan, a great many of the name, but not James or Miles. Rev.
Rich. Blinman's mother was Jane Morgan.

Steevens or Stephens. Richard Steevens and Annie Tugwell, mar-
ried 21st May 1610. Joane Steevens. baptized June 28th. 1627. Grace,
daughter of Phillipp Steevens baptized 2-4 January 1632. -Elioner, the
wife of William Stephens of Bettisly buried 9th Sept. 1638.

Hough, not to be found, but Hughe. Catherine Hughe wife of John
Hughe, buried Sept. 6th. 1638.

Phelpes. Margaret, the daughter of Thomas Phelpes, bapt. Jan. 3,
1639.

Yours faithfully, G. J. Hexslet.

SUMMARY OF DATA.

We have given all the available data that can be found on this
side the Atlantic, probably, barring a few fugitive extracts of no
groat value ur bearing on the question. Let us now summarize the

removed to Marshfield between the dates of birth of his two first
children. This will also nearly tally with the dates of Blinman's
Removal .

X. " Obadiah Bruen filled the office of town clerk daring the whole
period of his stay in Gloucester: and when he left he carried the records
with him. as it appears by a copy of an extract from them taken by his
own hand after his removal to New Jersey."

He was living' in Newark, N.J., in 1681. Search for this mis-
sing record should be made, by all means.

XI. The first record':)' was Obadiah Bruen, who removed to
New London in 1650, and carried with him the original record.

-Tradition savs he took it," says Babson, -because the town would not
pay for the book; but this seems improbable, considering that he left in
another volume, in his own hand-writing, what we must conceive to have
beeu the most important part of that which he carried away." — page 185.

XII. "There is nothing in the town-records about the erection of the
first meeting house . . . erected by earlier inhabitants than Mr. Blynman
and his company." "So ion^ ago as in 1633," says Rev. E. Forbes in a
commemoration sermon in Gloucester, in 1795, "the first settlers of tin's
town consecrated a house for public worship." '-It appeals probable,"
continues Babsou's History, "that a house of worship was erected soou
after the incorporation of the town on or near the spot occupied by three
successive buildings for this purpose, about half a mile north of the place
indicated as the site of the first one." It is probable that "Master" Rash-
ley was the pastor of this first primitive church. He was in Gloucester as
early as 1G40. " He was sometime member of the church in Boston; and
in 1652 was officiating as minister at Bishop-Stoke, England."

In regard to the treatment that Mr. Blynman received at Glou-
cester, which led to his leaving for New London, Mr. Babson says
feelingly (page 191) :

"Unhappy dissensions drove Mr. Blynman from the scene of his first
ministry in 'New England; and the ill-treatment he received from some
of his people here may have hastened, if it did not induce, his departure
from the town. His church was defamed; and he himself was scotfingly
spoken of for what he had formerly delivered in the way of the ministry.
But he appears to have worked undisturbed in the other fields of his labor,
and to have lived in peaceful and harmonious relations with all. He was
greeted with the loving salutations of eminent men; and a contemporary
writer, (Johnson, in his " Wonder-working Providence") described him as
a man 'of a sweet, humble, heavenly carriage,' who labored much against
the errors of the times."

"We have some further notes and gleanings, from Marshfield,
Wales, and other places, which we may at some future time, when
more fully developed, present to the Register readers, but in the
meantime should be glad to hear from any of them, in print or by
letter, in more mature and thorough exploitation of this attractive
theme.

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